Matarawa
Safety Score (12-month average)
54
–
Crime rate
21.5 per 1,000
Population 2,325
Total crimes (past 12 months)
50
Trend (last 3 months)
→ 0.0%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#177 / 258
Bottom 31%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Matarawa Overview
Most common offences by count were burglary (42.0%), assault (28.0%), and theft (26.0%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Matarawa is 21.5054 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 177 within Waikato Region. The overall crime trend in the area has remained the same in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Nov 2025, Feb 2026, May 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in November 2025, February 2026, and May 2026.
Matarawa crime statistics: common questions
Is Matarawa safe?
Matarawa recorded 50 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 21.5 per 1,000 residents across about 2,325 residents. These are offences recorded by New Zealand Police, which reflect what was reported and recorded rather than all crime that occurred.
What is the crime rate in Matarawa?
The crime rate in Matarawa is 21.5 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 50 recorded offences across about 2,325 residents. A rate counts offences against a suburb's resident population, so town centres and commercial areas can show high rates because offences there involve people who do not live there.
What is the most common crime in Matarawa?
The most common offence category in Matarawa is burglary, with 21 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 42% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is assault (14).
Is crime going up or down in Matarawa?
Recorded offences in Matarawa have stayed level over the most recent three-month period compared with the previous three months. This is a three-month comparison, not a year-on-year one, and short windows move around a lot in small areas.
How does Matarawa compare with other suburbs in Waikato Region?
Matarawa ranks 177 of 258 suburbs in Waikato Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Matarawa only with other suburbs in Waikato Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Matarawa come from?
Figures for Matarawa, South Waikato District come from New Zealand Police recorded victimisation data, published through police.govt.nz, and are grouped to Stats NZ Statistical Area 2 (SA2) boundaries. They count offences recorded by Police, so they reflect reporting and recording practice as well as underlying offending.
Looking for a plain-English safety summary?
👉 See how safe Matarawa is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz